Gabon temporarily prohibits French state media outlets TV5 Monde, France 24, and Radio France International (RFI) due to perceived bias in covering the recent general election.
RFI had expressed concerns about potential post-election turmoil amidst an internet blackout and imposed curfew.
On the same day, government spokesperson Rodrigue Mboumba Bissawou clarified in a televised statement that the curfew and internet shutdown aimed to prevent the spread of violence-inciting messages after the vote.
Opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa criticized the security measures, labeling them as excessive and accusing the electoral process of being manipulated.
France Médias Monde, owner of the banned channels, expressed remorse and surprise over the suspension, asserting it lacked grounds and deprived Gabonese citizens of vital sources of reliable and independent information.
Results from Gabon’s electoral commission are pending, with no specified timeline for release. The vote was conducted without participation from foreign observers and journalists.